Paintball is a competitive game enjoyed by many people. Basic safety gear and equipment is necessary for all paintball players. Being well equipped with specialized equipment and high end protective gear can make the game that much more fun for participants. Selecting supplies can be easier when familiar with popular terminology for paintball equipment.

Marker - A term for a paintball gun. They are powered by compressed air. CO2 is the most common type of compressed air used with paintball markers, though nitrogen may also be used.

Hopper - Also called a loader. A container which supplies the gun with new paintballs.

Remote Line - A piece of equipment which connects the marker to a tank which can be clipped to a belt. These add weight, but allow a greater range of movement.

Barrel Block - A safety device which prevents accidental discharge of a paintball. Should a gun accidentally fire, a barrel block ensure that the paintball will not leave the barrel of the gun.

Pod - Also called a guppie or a tube. These are storage containers for paintballs. Most are designed to be quickly opened, allowing for swift reloading.

Pod Pack - Also called a harness. These are designed for carrying several pods of paintballs and or a gas tank.

Paintball Mask - Equipment designed to protect the face and eyes. These range from goggles, similar to those used by snowboarders, to masks which fully cover the face and head.

Slider Shorts - Padded shorts which offer protection for the legs and groin. Many paintball players select shorts which balance protection against flexibility for ease of movement.

Paintball can be a fun, energetic way to bond with your friends, while still getting to shoot balls of paint at them. In the game, you typically compete on teams, and try to hit your opponent or target with a shot of paint. After getting shot with the paint, they become disqualified in the game. This sport commonly takes place at specific game ranges, where there may also be targets and a supplies store. Though paintball is fun, there is the potential to get hurt if you do not wear the proper equipment. Because of this, many companies require specific gear, like padding, goggles and special clothing before they will allow you out onto the field. If you are interested in playing, but have not bought all of the supplies yet, most paintball playing ranges have guns, equipment, and apparel for sale on location. The sales clerks can advise you on the types of cases, CO2 tanks, or nitrogen-based guns you might be interested in. However, you can also find the same type of information by looking up paintball accessories online. You can research pricing on target markers, different types of gear, face masks and more. Besides looking up different stores near you, you might be interested in finding out a bit more about the game. You might also discover that paintball fields can also be found indoors, or that it is used to train military personal. It is a great sport if played with the right supplies and equipment, so be sure to do some more research.